How do you pronounce 'croissant'?

[ClaudiaWankleman]

It's probably the only word that I can feel myself thinking about pronunciation as I begin the sentence. There are so many different pronunciations.

1. The French way - my preferred way as I do speak French quite well. Nonetheless, I doubt myself, especially if I'm in the company of people I don't know very well. Will I sound pretentious or silly?
2. Cwoss-ont
3. Cwass-ont
4. Cross-ont
5. Crass-ont
6. Cwazz-ont
7. Cwozz-ont
8. Any of (2)-(8) with an 'ant' sound at the end instead of 'ont'.
9. Another pronunciation

And yes, before anyone says it, I could've used IPA to write these pronunciations. But I haven't, because I don't want to and I'll enjoy any misunderstandings which arise in the comments.

Somewhere between kwusson and kwasson for me I think. Definitely not sounding the ‘t’ and actually barely sounding the ‘n’. It’s just a sort of vague nasal sound at the end.

I don’t really like croissants all that much so luckily rarely need to say the word 😂

What do we think the French way is?

I’d say Cwass-on with almost a glottal stop rather than the ‘n’. My French accent is poor though.

3

Yes, that’s what I mean about the ending.

But yes as others have said, without the T.

3+8-t

The French way ONLY if speaking French.

If speaking English, then it is a word we have adopted into the language so should be pronounced with the British pronunciation. To do otherwise would be incredibly pretentious.

I would say 3.

Number 4

No, nor have I. Always finishing on the 'n' sound.

Cwoiss - On.

9 cruh - soh

basicaly don’t pronounce the T as it’s french

Oh yeah. I missed the T. I never add the T.

Cwoiss - On is the closest, but with a slightly bunged up noise for the N.

I feel very self-conscious saying it at all. Same for ‘restaurant’. Rest-tron? Rest-er-ront? I doubt myself every time.

I have, but she also pronounced ciabatta as see-uh-batter.

I don’t really like croissants all that much so luckily rarely need to say the word

I mean...what?

Qua-son. No dramatically rolling my rs like some members of my family…

@MouseSculptureMadeOfOldHairbrushFluff, I know, I know. It doesn’t make sense even to me. I love cake and pastries, I love butter, I love pain au choc and brioche. But I never seem to want a croissant. 😕

3

If I am speaking English I say cwass-on as doing a proper throaty french R in the middle of an English sentence seems pretentious. If I am speaking French obviously I roll the R properly.

1. Most French words I'd say properly, with the exception of place names.

3, unless I’m speaking French, then 1.

Four I think because I feel an idiot making it very French whilst in the Uk.

can I ask a related question on Estrella the beer. I believe it’s pronounced “ es tray a “ so not pronouncing the “ll” but it foxes some bar staff.

1, subject to my imperfect french pronounciation. I speak french so it would feel weird not to.

Number 4

What does it matter?